Effect of noradrenaline and isoproterenol on lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in whole blood from patients with chronic heart failure and the role of beta-adrenergic receptors

Increased levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) correlate with poor prognoses in chronic heart failure (CHF). This study demonstrated that noradrenaline and isoproterenol inhibit TNF-α production in patients with CHF in ex vivo whole blood in a dose-dependent fashion. The β-blocker bisoprolol abolishes this effect.